Toy boat



Api-il 8, 1941.

D. PALMONES 2237.912

TOY BOAT Filed March 2o, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 7T E.: Tri-57.5. T57 5. BQM

ATTORNEY April 8, 1941. D, PALMONES 2,237,912 v TOY BOAT Filed March 20, 1.940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR rofz .PacZmo/*zef ATTORNEY i Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'roY BOAT Dixon Palmones', Pelham, N. Y. Application March zo, 1940, serial No. 324,990 s claims. (ci. fic- 93) provements in a toy boat.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a toy boat characterized by a streamlined body adapted to float upon the surface of the water and provided with a novel means arranged in Ia manner to drive the body across the surface of the water.

Still further the invention proposes ther'arrangement of a shaft rotatively supported and extended centrally along the body and having its front end at a high elevation and its rear end at a low elevation to be normally extended into the water :at the rear of the body.

Still further it is proposed to mount a propeller upon the front end of the shaft for causing the shaft to rotate when wind turns the propeller, and the provision of a water propeller upon the rear end of the shaft in a manner to drive the body as the shaft rotates.

A further object of this invention is the pro# vision of runners mounted upon said body and a novel means for driving the body across the surface of ice or any other similar slippery surface.

Still further the invention proposes the provision of a novel propeller shaft which is adapted to be adjusted for causing the body to move in any desired direction when the shaft turns.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description `and accompanying drawings, and to the appelnded claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying `drawings forming a material lpart of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a ltoy boat constructed in :accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. B' is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the ice runners per se.

Fig. 5 is a partial elevational view looking in the ydirection of the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is still Ianother view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of the universal joint between the shaft sections.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional viefw on lthe line 9--9 of Fig. 10. l i

Fig.-` 10 is a Side elevational View of another toy boat constructed in accordance with another modified form of this invention. l

Fig. 11 is a front elevationalview of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of Fig. 10, but illustrating the device applied to 4a toy airplane.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational View of Fig. l2.

The toy boa-t, according to this invention, includes a streamlined body Ill which is preferably constructed of wood or tin yand has a flat bottom and is normally adapted to float upon they surface of 'a body of water. yThe bottom of the streamlined body I0 is provided with a downwardly extending n II normally .projecting into the water and which acts' as a keel for maintaining the body in an upright position.

At the front end the body I!) is provided with an' upwardly extending wind guide vane I2 and at the rear the body I0 is provided with a second wind guide vane I3. The rear vaney is substantially smaller than the front vane I2 and these vanes are in end alignment with each other for acting to maintain the body I0 on a straight course. A propeller shaft I4 is normally extended through the top portion of the front vane I2 and is also rota-tively extended through the rear vane I3. This propeller shaft I4 extends centrally of the body I0 and has its front end at a high elevation and its rear end at a low elevation and normally extended into the water when the body I0 floats thereon. At Ithe point where the shaft I4 exten-ds through the front vane I2 the vane is formed with bosses I2a and the shaft I4 is provided with clixedly mounted collars I5 engaging the 5bosses I2a for fixedly but rotatively main-taining the shaft in position.

A wind propeller!` I6 is mounted upon the front end of the shaft I4 and has its blades directed to be rotated by wind when the wind comes from .the rear of the body I0. This rotation of the propeller I6 will correspondingly rotate the shaft I4.

A means is also provided for propelling the streamlined body I0 over the surface of the water and this fmeans is normally mounted on the rear end of the shaft I4. This means comprises a water propeller I1 mounted upon the rear end of the shaft I4 and which normally extends into theA water for driving the streamlined body forward when the shaft I4 rotates.

The' operation of this form of the invention is as follows: j j

For causingv the toy boat to move across the surface of a body of water 4it is necessary to rst determine the direction of the wind. The streamlined body Illis then placed in the water with its length extending parallel to the direction of the wind and with the wind moving from the rear end to the front end thereof to Contact the propeller `it and rotate the same to correspondingly rotate the shaft I4 and the water propeller i1 to drive the body across the surface of the water.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the construction of the device is similar to that previously described except for a differently shaped streamlined body I having a front runner I8 and a pair of rear runners |9 mounted thereon in a manner to be used upon ice or any other similar slippery surface. The rear v runners I9 are substantially L-shaped in form and have their short arms I9a extended into the sides of the streamlined body I0. The long arms |91 are doubled substantially upon themselves and the free end is enlarged at `I9c and is adapted to rest upon the surface of the ice or other slippery surface.

In lieu of a water propeller this form of the invention is provided with a novel means for driving the streamlined body across theV surface of the ice. The rear end of the propeller shaft i4 in this form of the invention extends into a hollow lila formed at the rear end of the streamlined body I3. The rear en-d of the propeller shaft i4 is provided with a worm gear I2|).

This Worm gear A2|] meshes with a pinion 2| fixedly mounted upon a shaft 22 rotatively supported in bearings 23 mounted upon the bottom face of the streamlined body I0 on either side of the opening |33. The pinion 2| is mounted centrally of the shaft 22 and on either side thereof the shaft carries a wheel 24. The periphery of each of these wheels 24 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending pins 25 which are adapted to engage the ice or slippery surface and drive the streamlined body l0' forwards as the propeller'shaft |4 is rotated by the rotation of the propeller I6. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, a nove1 type of toy boat is contemplated in which there is a streamlined body 35 preferably constructed of wood or tin and which is adapted to oat upon the surface of a body of water. A wind guide vane Si is mounted upon the front of the body 35. This Wind guide vane 3| is turnably mounted in a manner to be turned to various angular positions with relation to the body 30. To accomplish this a pin 32 is fixedly attached to the top face of the body 3U. A bottom edge of the wind guide vane 3| is spaced slightly from the top face of the streamlined body 30. A friction washer 33 is mounted on the pin 32 and is normally disposed between the vane 3| and the body 353 for holding the vane in various turned positions. The ends of the vane `3| are also provided with friction material 34 for assisting the friction washers 33 in holding the same in various angular fixed positions.

A propeller shaft 35 is rotatively supported and extends centrally of the body 3|) from the front to the rear thereof. This propeller shaft 35 has its front end at a high elevation and its rear end at a low elevation and normally exv tended into the water. The shaft 35 is constructed of separate sections consisting of a front section 35a and a rear section 35b Which are univel-sally connected together at their adjacent ends.

Each of the adjacent ends of the shaft sections a and 35b is provided with a U-shaped member 3'6. A four point star Wheel 31 is arranged in a particular manner with relation to the U-shaped members 3B to permit the shaft to rotate when the shaft sections are in various angular positions with relation to each other. To accomplish this the arms of each of the U-shaped members 35 are attached to the ends of oppositely disposed arms of the star wheel 31.

The front portion of the front section .35EL of the shaft 35 is slidably and rotatively extended through a collar '38 rotatively supported upon the top end of the pin 32 supporting the wind guide vane 3|. A means is provided for urging the front section 35a into a neutral position when the shaft 35 is extended centrally and longitudinally of the body 30. This means comprises collars 39 mounted upon the shaft section 35a and spaced from the ends of the collar 38. Springs 4|) are coaxially mounted upon the shaft section 35a and operate between the ends of the collar 38 and the collars 39.

The rear portion of the rear section 35b of the shaft 35 is slidably and rotatively extended through a collar 4| turnably mounted upon the rear end of the streamlined body 30. This collar `4|) is provided with an upwardly extending pin 42 upon which a rear wind guide vane 43 is rotatively mounted. The top end of the pin `42 is provided With a head 42a and a friction washer 44 operates between the head 42 and a boss formed on the vane 43 for holding the vane in various turned positions relative to the pin 42 and the collar 4|. A wind propeller 45 is mounted upon the front section 135a of the shaft and a. water propeller 46 is mounted upon the rear section 35b of the shaft for causing the streamlined body to be driven across the surface of the Water when the propeller is rotated.

A means is also provided for holding the shaft sections 35a and 35b in various angular positions with relation to each other for causing the streamlined body to be driven across the surface of the Water in varying directions. This means comprises a handle 41 pivotally mounted upon a pin 48 and having its bottom end extended into a cutout 3|?a formed in the streamlined body 30. This handle 41 is provided with an enlarged opening 49 through which the front section 35a of the shaft extends. At the point Where the front section 35a extends through the opening 49 it is provided with a loosely fitting collar 50. This collar is provided with a pair of vertically extended trunnions 5| which engage receiving sockets 52 formed in the handle 41 above and below the opening 49. This permits the handle 41 to be extended in one direction or the other to correspondingly move the front section 35*I of the shaft and still permit the shaft sections 35EL and 35|D to be rotated due to the fact that their adjacent ends are universally connected together.

A means is also provided for holding the handle 41 in various extended positions. This means comprises a downwardly extending tail 41a formed upon the bottom end of the handle 41. A spring I53 arranged along an arc concentric with the pivot 43 is ,fixedly mounted upon one side Wall of the opening 3|)a and has its other end bearing against the other side wall. This spring is provided with a plurality of depressions 53a into which the tail 4121 of the handle is adapted to be extended in the various pivoted positions thereof.

In the modified form of the toy boat illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the toy boat includes a streamlined body 55 which is` preferably constructed of wood or tin and has a relatively ilatjtop55f and` a rounded bottom 55h; This body isconstructed ina manner so that it floats. A streamlined downwardly extending'n 56 is'mounted along the central areaV of the bottom of the body 55 and at its bottom e'nd is provided with a streamlined weight 56il arrangedto maintain the boat in a vertical position. `At the` rear the body 55 is provided with a rudder 51 and with awind var1`e58. i l ,l W

At the front the body 55 is provided with an upwardly and forwardly extending wind guide vane 60 having longitudinally extending grooves 60*L upon its front and side faces to assist the streamlining thereof. This guide vane 60 is connected with the body 55 by a universal joint and a clamping mechanism for holding the body in various adjusted positions. More specifically, a vertical swivel pin 6| is rotatively supported on the body 55 and projects upwards. This pin 6| is capable of being fixed in various turned positions by a clamp screw 62. The clamp screw 62 is threadedly mounted on the body 55 and abuts the swivel pin 6|. 'Ihe upper end of the swivel pin 6| is pivotally and fixedly connected by a clamp bolt 63 with a bracket 64 attached upon the rear of the guide vane 60.

The bolt 63 is adapted to be loosened to permit the guilde vane 6U to be moved vertically to various positions, and is then adapted to be tightened for holding the guide vane 50 as desired. The construction is such that the guide vane E0 may be turned towards the right or left any desired amount and located in any particular position, and moreover, pivoted upwards to various positions and locked in these positions, as desired.

A propeller shaft 65 is rotatively supported in several standards 55 arranged upon the top of the guide vane 60. A wind propeller 86' is mounted upon the front end of the shaft B5. The shaft 65 is connected by a universal joint 61 with a rear shaft 68. This rear shaft extends downwards and rearwards and is rotatively and slidably supported in a bearing' 69 mounted upon a rear portion of the body 55. The propeller shaft section 68 extends through body 55 and at its bottom end is provided with a water propeller 1D.

The operation of the device is a-s follows:

The toy boat may be placed on water and it will float. 'I'he wind will cause the propeller 66 to rotate and the rotations will be transmitted to the propeller 10. Thus the wind and the propellers will propel the boat. The toy boat may be caused to travel in approximate predetermined arcs by varying the direction of the guide vanes 60. This vane 60 may lbe set upwards or downwards, or to one side or the other, as desired. The rudder 51 and the fin 58 will also have some control over the path the boat takes.

In Figs. 12 and 1.3, the invention is sho-wn to be applied to a toy airplane 15. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to Fig. Al0 and the various parts may be recognized by the similar reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dec fined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A toy boat, comprising a streamlined body, a wind 'guide vane mounted on the top of the body at' the front, a propeller shaft rotatively supported and extending centrally of said body from the front to the rear and having its front end at a high elevation and its rear end at a low elevation, a wind propeller mounted on the front end of saidshaft, and a means for propelling said body connected with the rear end o-f said shaft, said body being provided with runners, and said means for propelling said body comprising a worm gear mounted upon the rear end of said shaft, a pinion meshing with said worm gear and lixedly mounted upon a shaft, wheels mounted on opposite sides of said pinion and fixedly attached to said shaft, and pins extending from the periphery of said wheels and adapted to contact the surface of the ice for driving the body thereacross.

2. A toy boat, comprising a streamlined body, a Wind guide vane mounted on the top of the body atthe front, a propeller shaft rotatively supported and extending centrally of said body from the front to the rear and having its front end at `a high elevation `and its rear end at a low elevation and comprising a front section universally connected with a rear section, a wind propeller mounted on the front end of said shaft, and a means for propelling said body connected with the rear end of said shaft, a movably mounted handle for supporting one of said shaft sections in certain positions, and resilient means holding said handle in various fixed positions.

v3. A toy boat, comprising a streamlined body, a wind guide vane turnably mounted on the top of said body at the front, a propeller shaft rota-v tively supported and extending centrally of said body from the front `to the rear and having its front end at a high elevation and its rear end low and comprising a front section universally connected with a rear section, a wind propeller mounted on the front end of said shaft, a water propeller mounted on the rear end of said shaft, and means for holding said shaft sections at various angular positions relative to each other including a pivotally mounted handle having an opening through which one of said sections ex tend for guiding it, and means for holding said handle.

4. A toy boat, comprising a streamlined body, a wind guide vane turnably mounted on the top of said body at the front, a'propeller shaft rotatively supported and extending centrally of said body from the front to the rear and having its front end at a high elevation and its rear end low and comprising a front section universally connected with a rear section, a wind propeller mounted on the front end of said shaft, a water propeller mounted on the rear end of saiid shaft, and means for holding said shaft sections at various angular positions relative to each other,

r said means for holding said shaft sections in various angular positions comprising a pivotally mounted handle having an opening through which said front section extends, said front section carrying a loosely mounted collar at the point where it passes through said handle, vertically extended trunnions mounted on said collarland engaging receiving sockets formed in said handle above and below said opening, and a means for holding said handle in various pivoted positions to correspondingly hold said xed sec tions in various angular positions.

5. A toy boat, comprising a streamlined body, a guide vane universally adjustably mounted on the top of said body at the front, a. propeller shaft rotatively supported on the top of said guide vane, a rear shaft connected with said shaft with a universal joint, said rear shaft extending rearwards and downwards through said body, a wind propeller on' the front of the rstnamed shaft, a water propeller on the rear of said rear shaft, and means for holding said guide vane in various xed positions.

6. A toy boat, comprising a streamlined body,

aV guide vane universally vadjustably mounted on the top of said body at the front, a propeller shaft rotatively supported on the top of said guide vane, a rear shaft connected with said shaft withI a universal joint, said rear shaft extending rearwards and downwards through said body, a wind propeller on the front of the firstnamed shaft, a Water propeller on the rear of said rear shaft, and means for holding said guide Vane in various xed positions, comprising clamp screws engaging portions of said universal joint and locking the joint in xed positions.

DIXON PALMONES. 

